title: Aging is associated with a decrease in synaptosomal glutamate uptake and an increase in the susceptibility of synaptosomal vitamin E to oxidative stress.
abstract: We examined the influence of aging upon the uptake of glutamate by synaptosomes, and the oxidation of synaptosomal vitamin E. Synaptosomes isolated from the cerebral hemispheres of Fischer 344 rats, 4 and 24 months old, were suspended at 37 degrees C in buffer (pH 7.4) simulating extracellular fluid containing 10 mM glucose. The Km for the high affinity uptake of tritium labeled glutamate was approximately 10 microM. The uptake of glutamate was lower in synaptosomes from older animals than those from younger animals for periods of up to 20 minutes. Upon incubation with a mixture of ferrous iron and ascorbate, more of the alpha tocopherol in synaptosomes derived from older rats was oxidized than in those derived from younger ones. Older animals may be more susceptible to excitotoxicity because: a) synaptosomal reuptake of glutamate is less efficient and b) oxidative stress induced by various agents including glutamate may be higher in synaptosomes from the older animal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, GRECC, VA Medical Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA. vatas001@maroon.tc.umn.edu
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Vatassery
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Quach
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D014810:Vitamin E; D018698:Glutamic Acid